Court remands journalist for allegedly blackmailing Bauchi governor

From Ahmed Mohammed, Bauchi

A 32-year-old Journalist Haruna Mohammed Salisu has been remanded in Correctional Center by the Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ahmed Musa, in Bauchi State.
Haruna was alleged to have incited disturbance of public peace and blackmailing the incumbent Governor of the State Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir.
The State Commissioner of Police is prosecuting Haruna, the publisher of Wikki Times, over the allegation of hired some women to incite disturbance by instigating them to make utterances that will prejudice the peace and well being of the intended voters at the polling unit in Duguri ward of Alkaleri LGA, and it also blackmail the incumbent Governor in his ward contrary to section 114 of the Penal Code.
Following the non guilty plea by the accused, his counsel, S. G Idrees , applied for his bail.
Counsel from the office of the State Anthony General Haruna Mohammed, announced appearance from the Ministry of Justice and announced that the Attorney-General will like to take over the case from the Police and continue with the case as contained in the 1999 constitution.
The matter was adjourned to continue Wednesday 1st March 2023, for ruling on the bail application.
Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest and detention of Haruna Mohammed, Publisher of Wikki Times, an online newspaper. On Saturday, policemen from Duguri…
Bauchi State Police Command had earlier confirmed the arrest and detention of Haruna Mohammed, Publisher of Wikki Times, an online newspaper.
On Saturday, policemen from Duguri in Bauchi whisked away Mohammed, and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Bauchi Police Headquarters, allegedly on the orders of the State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
An eyewitness who craved anonymity told Daily Trust that Haruma was interviewing some women who were protesting that they had submitted their résumés but were not employed when he was arrested.
“It was during the course of the interview that the women started protesting that they would not vote.”
“Immediately, some hoodlums alleged to be supporters of the governor attempted to beat Haruna before the police intervened and whisked him away,” the source said.
When contacted, Bauchi Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Ahmed Wakil, said, “The police actually received a formal complaint that a journalist was inciting the electorate during Saturday’s general elections.”
Wakil explained that the police was investigating a case of public incitement reported against Mohammed, adding, “That was why we quickly intervened to ensure we maintain law and order, especially at this period.”